Ilia Malinin Fan Thread!

[Sylvia]

Vail Daily article before Ilia's first trip there to perform in the Vail Ice Spectacular show on Dec. 22-23: https://www.vaildaily.com/news/quad-god-ilia-malinin-performs-at-vail-ice-spectacular/

Link to watch a fan cam video of the entire Vail Ice Spectacular show is posted here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ows-benefits-tours.112107/page-2#post-6707733
His 2 solo programs were "Running" and music from the James Bond film No Time To Die that he debuted at the GP Final EX gala. Lots of Ilia in Vail content here: https://x.com/TheIliaSociety

Re-posting here from the Japanese skating news thread in GSD:

Kao Miura did Insta-Live today and talked about the friendships with Ilia Malinin.
According to Kao, Ilia praised Kao's free skate at Skate America. Ilia often encouraged him saying ”Gamba! (Go for it!)” Ilia is so casual off-ice but so amazing on-ice.

Then Ilia wrote a comment on the screen using a very formal Japanese expression "お役に立てて嬉しいです(I am glad to be of your service)" ←where did he learn this!?

 

[Sylvia]

I really like Ilia's "No time to die" performance. He really makes an effort to express soft movements by varying the speed of the movement and limiting himself to jumping only once.

It's the final program of the show (starts at 1:09:40 and he also does a lay back spin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqj4vw_XLDA&t=4176s

 

[Sylvia]

USA Today article (Dec. 31, 2024):

Arch Manning, Lily Yohannes make our list of athletes set to become breakout stars in 2025

Here are 10 athletes that USA TODAY Sports staff writers identified as being poised for a big year in 2025. See who makes the list.

www.usatoday.com

With each passing year, another wave of up-and-coming athletes across the world of sports have breakout seasons, emerging into all-out stars.
In 2024, it was Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese making their first WNBA All-Star appearances as rookies. Paul Skenes making his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Or even Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels emerging as a fringe MVP candidate.
Now, who will be the breakout sports stars of 2025?

Here are 10 athletes that USA TODAY Sports staff writers identified as being poised for a big year in 2025 − including some up-and-comers who could become stars, and a few young phenoms who could ascend into superstardom.

Figure skater Ilia Malinin
Malinin, 20, is already one of the biggest stars in his sport — the reigning world champion and only man in history to land the quadruple axel in international competition. But next year, as the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan approach and the excitement around Team USA starts to build, he will very likely start to become a household name.

ETA - Sports represented: 3 in basketball, 2 in American football, and 1 each in baseball, ice hockey, tennis, soccer & FIGURE SKATING!

 

[Sylvia]

Tatjana Flade interviews Ilia Malinin, USA [Grand Prix Final] Men's Champion (December 8, 2024; "This [almost 10-minute] interview has been produced in collaboration with Pirouette Magazine."), uploaded today by Ice Skating International Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX3hbBZxz0k

The second edition of Ari Zakarian's "Gold on Ice" will take place - one day after Wichita Nationals - on Monday, Jan. 27 in Omaha, Nebraska - info here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ows-benefits-tours.112107/page-3#post-6712634

 

[Sylvia]

Pre-Nationals media call with Ilia:

@clairecloutier's thread (9 posts): https://x.com/adivinesport/status/1879324445258797186
Excerpts:

“After GPF, I was able to rethink what strategy I wanted to do going into #2025PrevagenUSChamps,” Ilia Malinin said on pre-Natls call tonight. He said he has “a few minor injuries” and a boot issue right now. He’s trying to be careful not to overtrain.
Ilia says he has ”to cool myself down“ after Natls before ramping up for Worlds. To improve his artistry, he sometimes improvs to music in front of a mirror. He does skating skills drills in the morning, then does more jumping in afternoon.
“We have a love/hate relationship with each other,” Malinin said of his signature quad Axel. Some days it goes super-well, other days it needs more work.
The GPF free skate wasn’t what he wanted, but he’s proud he tried what he called his “perfect layout” of all 6 quads.

Figure Skaters Online's thread (4 posts): https://x.com/fsonline/status/1879326839287730334

"Just after the Final, I was able to kind of take time and rethink what my strategy is going into these national championships, just to get ready for the World Championships in Boston."
Malinin noted a "few minor injuries and a boot problem."
"They are pretty minor, and is kind of just making sure that I'm not overworking myself, leading up to next week and leading up to Boston, just making sure I can manage my health and to really just control it."

 

[Debbie S]

Ilia is a semi-finalist for the Sullivan Award! It sounds like the public will be able to vote starting next week.

Ilia Malinin on Instagram: "I am very honored to be a semi finalist from a distinguished group of athletes for the AAU Sullivan Award. I am so grateful for all the years of hard work, dedication, and effort that I went through in order to reach this

9,618 likes, 104 comments - ilia_quadg0d_malinin on February 13, 2025: "I am very honored to be a semi finalist from a distinguished group of athletes for the AAU Sullivan Award. I am so grateful for all the years of hard work, dedication, and effort that I went through in order to reach this...

www.instagram.com

 

[ice coverage]

Ilia is a semi-finalist for the Sullivan Award! It sounds like the public will be able to vote starting next week.

Ilia Malinin on Instagram: "I am very honored to be a semi finalist from a distinguished group of athletes for the AAU Sullivan Award. I am so grateful for all the years of hard work, dedication, and effort that I went through in order to reach this

9,618 likes, 104 comments - ilia_quadg0d_malinin on February 13, 2025: "I am very honored to be a semi finalist from a distinguished group of athletes for the AAU Sullivan Award. I am so grateful for all the years of hard work, dedication, and effort that I went through in order to reach this...

www.instagram.com

Voting has started for Sullivan Award at link below.

" Click "Vote for This Nomination" to cast your vote. On the next page, be sure to check "I'm not a robot" before confirming your vote in order for it to go through.
You can vote once per day, every day through the deadline. Voting closes Tuesday, February 25 at 11:59 p.m. EST. "

Amateur Athletic Union - Nomination Gallery

aausullivan.secure-platform.com

 

[Wyliefan]

Nice long interview with Ilia in the Washingtonian.

Ilia Malinin Is Leaping Into Figure Skating Stardom

The 20 years old figure skater is winning titles with his daring quad jumps. How much farther can he push figure skating’s limits?

www.washingtonian.com

Given the intense physical and emotional tension that accompanies every jump—one missed edge, one under- or over-rotation, one failed landing and a skater’s score goes kaput—Malinin’s attitude is rare. “It’s a hard thing to be in a sport that’s so serious and have everything you’ve done come down to six minutes and still keep that playful frivolity,” says Weir, referring to the combined length of a skater’s short (two minutes) and long (four) programs. “It makes him an enchanting performer.”

Malinin can seem almost casual as he goes about his history-making business. His self-described “lucky charm” is a soccer ball that he ritually juggles like a Hacky Sack as a warm-up. He has no problem peeking at the monitors backstage during competitions—in fact, he enjoys watching fellow skaters, even when he has yet to take the ice himself. “Not everyone’s like that,” Flade says. “Some even cover their ears so they don’t hear the other scores.” It also isn’t unusual to see Malinin lip-synching in the middle of his programs as he loses himself in the soundtrack—just as he used to back at SkateQuest as a kid. “When I’m able to get into that zone, then I’m able to really let all my emotions go,” Malinin says. “That helps me perform better.”

(Besides those named here, there are also quotes from Mark Hanretty and Tatiana Malinina.)

 

[On My Own]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/1jiohrw/malininvirtualcom_fiasco/

I guess I'm the only shit starter on the website, but this is definitely shit that deserves to be started.

An AI website, with a 'virtual coach' dedicated to giving skating advice. Injuries galore, especially seeing how young men's skating fans tend to be.

 

[marshallpond]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/1jiohrw/malininvirtualcom_fiasco/

I guess I'm the only shit starter on the website, but this is definitely shit that deserves to be started.

An AI website, with a 'virtual coach' dedicated to giving skating advice. Injuries galore, especially seeing how young men's skating fans tend to be.

It's vomit-inducing, and I love Ilia.

But as a marketing person, the website is not aligned with his personal brand (I guess someone needs to sit down with him and really brainstorm on what his personal brand is). The website is just an icky way to make money: $3.50 per minute to chat with an Ilia bot!?!? I can't for the life of me even think why this idea was given the green light.

The domain was registered only on 2025-02-19; so that's a quick turnaround for this website. Then plug into the ChatGPT API to get these "answers from Ilia."

It seems like someone didn't like it so much that the website was taken down and is now behind the Coming Soon! wall. It should never have seen the light of day.

 

[Debbie S]

It seems like someone didn't like it so much that the website was taken down and is now behind the Coming Soon! wall.

USFS? The week of Worlds isn't the best time for one of their top skaters to make people cringe.

 

[On My Own]

But as a marketing person, the website is not aligned with his personal brand (I guess someone needs to sit down with him and really brainstorm on what his personal brand is). The website is just an icky way to make money: $3.50 per minute to chat with an Ilia bot!?!? I can't for the life of me even think why this idea was given the green light.

I'm not sure I care so much about 'personal brand' as much as how ridiculous it is to sell 'skating advice' on a chatbot. Ilia should try to do better. He's 20 and a world champion, he's bound to know how much bad advice can mess with you.

There's a lot more that's happened, can't keep up with it. Again, 20 year old, so has run out of excuses to be keeping Zakarian with him. IMO anyway.

 

[Karen-W]

The kid's insane...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1905050634895913123

 

[Fiero425]

Watching the men's Short Program! Ilia was brilliant as always! About to see Kagiyama who's just 3 pts. behind! HOW?

 

[Debbie S]

Congratulations to Ilia on his 2nd world title!

 

[~tapdancer~]

So many men from the past I have admired and cheered on. Ilia is just the best ever to me now. Watching his exhibition was breathtaking. He is just making history every time he takes the ice. What a special young man.

 

[Cachoo]

Someone had a spectacular view of Ilia's free. Awesome.

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[just tuned in]

Someone had a spectacular view of Ilia's free. Awesome.

TikTok - Make Your Day

Hi @Cachoo. Perhaps you really believe that sharing tiktoks is good for this board. But it makes me question why this is the bulk of your posts.

 

[Alilou]

Hi @Cachoo. Perhaps you really believe that sharing tiktoks is good for this board. But it makes me question why this is the bulk of your posts.

 

[YukiNieve]

Ilia skated to "Cage of Bones (Son Lux)" and "No Time to Die" for the SOI in Japan.

 

[YukiNieve]

Ilia practied at the Kinoshita Academy with Mone Chiba and Mao Shimada, among others, before moving to Sapporo for the second series of SOI shows.

フィギュアスケート　マリニン＆木下アカデミー公開練習 ［写真特集1/16］ | 毎日新聞

公開練習で模範演技をするイリア・マリニン＝木下アカデミー京都アイスアリーナで2025年4月9日、西村剛撮影

mainichi.jp

 

[YukiNieve]

Ilia also advised young Japanese skaters on jumping techniques, including Mone Chiba and Mao Shimada. His mother/coach Tatiana Malinina was also there.

Koshiro Shimada and Tomoki Hiwatashi were there, too, maybe acting as translators? (not sure)

 

[cailuj365]

Literally 22+ minutes of Ilia leading practice and instructing at Kinoshita Academy:

Fascinating! I could see him as a coach after his competitive skating career is done.

 

[YukiNieve]

Ilia swapped boots with Andrew and landed 1A 2A 3A with the boots he never worn before (Andrew's comment at the end )

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Wyliefan]

Ilia in People magazine:

Ilia Malinin Opens Up About His Olympic Dreams and the Quad-Quad Combo Ahead of Stars of Ice U.S. Tour (Exclusive)

Newly crowned world figure skating men's champion Ilia Malinin spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about his 2026 Winter Olympic dreams ahead of the 2025 Stars on Ice U.S. tour.

people.com

Malinin is aware of what his competitors are trying, but says the Olympic season is not the time to try new elements like a quad-quad combo.

"I already have that layout in mind," Malinin says of his planned program with seven quads. "I definitely think that post-Olympics is where I can play around and try to go for, for example, the quad as the second jump in the combination, or kind of just play around with those things. So that's something that I'll be looking for after the Olympics. For the Olympics, I really want it to just be kind of set in stone, just really get a solid foundation and not have to worry about possible risks."